Everything tastes better with peanut butter! Except, of course, for those with peanut allergies. Luscious and high in protein, peanut butter isn’t only for PBJ sandwiches or desserts (though it’s awesome in both — see our listing of sweet treats using it) Here are 7 tasty ways to use it in vegan main dishes. First off, here’s an easy rendition of Cold Peanut Butter Sesame Noodles(above), with a dollop of tahini and a dash of spice. Delicious as a summer dinner served with an easy tofu dish and a simple salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, and basil. more→

Mango lassi is a simple and tasty beverage from Indian cuisine that’s usually made with yogurt and/or milk. Substitute coconut yogurt and your favorite non-dairy milk and you’ve got a fantastic non-dairy version. Lush, ripe seasonal mango is best for this, but canned mango works as well. Photos by Evan Atlas.more→

Though most of us love summer, let’s hope that this final week in July puts an end to the over-the-top heat. Now we can look forward to the (usually) balmier weather in August. The plus side is that fresh produce of all sorts is continues to be in abundance, so let’s take full advantage of it this week in ways that don’t require too much heat in the kitchen. Note the judicious use of leftovers from one meal to the next! The only cooking you’ll need to do for Greek-Style Pasta Salad above is the pasta itself. Everything else gets tossed in and seasoned with fresh herbs and your favorite vinaigrette. Pick up some fresh pita, hummus, and stuffed grape leaves to go along with it. more→

The synergy of flavors of arugula, fresh figs, and toasty maple-flavored walnuts prove that you don’t need a lot of ingredients to create an exciting salad. Fresh figs are most often available during the summer months. Other times of the year, try this salad with apples or pears. Photos by Evan Atlas.more→